A promising teenage footballer has been found dead in bed after skipping school for a nap.
Alessandro Merucci was discovered unresponsive in his bedroom at around midday on Thursday (4 Jun).
His devastated mother found the 17-year-old lifeless after allowing him to rest after he said he was too unwell to attend school that day.
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Emergency services rushed to the scene and attempted resuscitation but the teenager could not be revived.
Initial indications point to a natural cardiac event.
Described by those who knew him as dedicated and full of passion for the game, Alessandro was a student at the ITIS Ettore Majorana technical school in Cassino, Italy.
He had just sat his exams as an aeronautical construction student, as reported by Need To Know.
The young athlete, who played for the youth side of ASD Gallinaro and the under-19 team of Polisportiva Valcomino, was also involved in coaching younger children.
An autopsy conducted at the Santa Scolastica Hospital on Saturday confirmed his death was due to natural causes, with no suspicious circumstances.
Alessandro’s body was subsequently released to the family.
The mayor of Belmonte Castello, Carlo Medagli, declared a day of civic mourning, with flags at half-mast and businesses invited to suspend activities during the funeral on Sunday.
Tributes have highlighted Alessandro’s character both on and off the pitch.
Cassino Calcio, which competes at Serie D level – the fourth tier of Italian football – said: “Seventeen years old and a life still to play.
“Cassino Calcio in the heart, today and forever. Goodbye Alessandro.”
Local fans also paid tribute by hanging a public banner reading: “You left your passion too early, Cassino ultras salute the champion.”
The mayor of Gallinaro, Mario Piselli, described him as “a great boy, student, worker, sportsman,” while the school community at ITIS Ettore Majorana said his memory would remain in the hearts of all who knew him.
Multiple sports clubs, including Real Cassino, Polisportiva Valcomino, and the Lazio regional football committee, have offered their condolences.
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